Explosion Outside US Embassy in Turkey

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(ANKARA, Turkey) -- Ambulances rushed to the U.S. embassy in Ankara, Turkey on Friday after an apparent suicide bombing took place outside the building.

Citing Turkish officials, the BBC reports two people -- a security guard and the bomber -- were killed.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland called the attack a "terrorist blast," and said it happened "at a check point on the perimeter" of the embassy at 1:13 p.m. local time.

"We are working closely with the Turkish national police to make a full assessment of the damage and the casualties, and to begin an investigation. We will share more information as it becomes available," she said in a statement.